Saturday, September 29, 2012

I love to read aloud to children, at home and in their school classrooms, and I especially have a fondness for sharing the poetry that my parents shared with me. This book has interesting illustrations that help a child to understand some of the older language and historical references used by Longfellow in the poem, all the while preserving the mirth and love that I think he meant to convey.

I thought of this poem this last summer when a work-at-home father talked about how school would start soon, and he might be able to get some work done with his children back in school. He lamented, at the same time, that he would miss them interrupting him. I think the situation is age-old. This poem is a reminder that children are our most important business. I love it.

No comments:

About Out of the Best Books

Around 1994, my friend, Sara, and I started a book club with this same title. The name comes from the verse of scripture that reads, "...Seek ye out of the best books words of wisdom; seek learning, even by study and also by faith." With 7 children under the age of 18, my life feels too full for book clubs right now. But I still love books and have always wanted to read only the best. Many of you want the same for you and for your children. This blog is for you! I have invited some of my dear family and friends to join with me in finding and sharing the books we claim to be "the best."

How "Out of the Best Books" Works

Keeping in mind that the purpose of this blog is not to review every book we have read, but rather to highlight the very best ones: those books that edify, that inspire you to be better in some way. These books easily fall into the description given by Paul and reiterated by Joseph Smith, Jr.: "honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men" (Article of Faith 13). Invited authors add books or comment on books that have already been added. Comments might include: why you loved this book, a favorite quote from this book, what you thought made this book great, or possibly flags you might raise about a part that concerned you or might concern others, respecting the depth and diversity of feeling towards various subject matter.

Want a free copy?

Did you know?

A late starter with books, [Robert Frost] was fourteen before he began to read on his own, for his mother had always read to him....He wrote his first poem in his fifteenth year.

Louis Untermeyer, The Road Not Taken: A selection of Robert Frost's poems. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1971

The age range in which a child learns to read is so broad, that we can always continue to practice patience with a child who does not learn quickly and foster a nurturing atmosphere for enjoying books.

I have a dream

One of my dreams is to create a website that has wonderful, illustrated children's stories on it that children anywhere in the world can access and read for FREE.

Already, you can go to The Friend magazine online and to Google Booksto read complete books and magazines for free!

Blog Archive

Email me

Do you have a suggestion, question or comment? Email Liz at lizzie.abi@gmail.com. Thanks!

Chasing Knowledge

The grandpa held the jar of honey so that all the family could see, then dipped a ladle into it and drizzled honey on the cover of a small book.

The little girl had just turned five.

"Stand up, little one," he cooed. "I did this for your mother, your uncles, your older brother, and now you!"

Then he handed the book to her. "Taste!"

She dipped her finger into the honey and put it into her mouth.

"What is that taste?" the grandma asked.

The little girl answered, "Sweet!"

Then all of the family said in a single voice, "Yes, and so is knowledge, but knowledge is like the bee that made that sweet honey, you have to chase it through the pages of a book!"

The little girl knew that the promise to read was at last hers. Soon she was going to learn to read.